Millions of dollars are spent every year for kids to get braces to fix the gaps between their teeth. However, recently Tyra Banks sent a 20 year old contestant on America’s Next Top Model to the dentist to get her gap widened!

Has the aesthetically pleasing look of perfectly straight teeth made a u-turn? From the runways of Paris, to pages in top magazines, we are seeing an increase in models with a midline diastema, the technical dental lingo for the gap.

The gap doesn’t cause any issues, from a dental standpoint, so most dentists are not concerned when a patient doesn’t want to fix it. In many countries in Africa, the gap is a symbol of beauty and fertility.

Americans have always been criticized by the rest of the world for our so-called “fake” smiles that look ingenuous and cold. Has our quest for perfection driven people to rebel against the standard or is this just another fad that will disappear like MySpace or Crocs?

by Tarin Keith

There is widespread debate whether or not Fluoride is a super hero or a villian. It appears naturally and artificially in the food we eat, the water we drink and at our dentist’s office. So, it seems that we have no other choice than to understand it and make educated choices.

Our teeth are constantly being damaged or demineralized, by substances we consume and the bacteria in our mouth. Fluoride comes to the rescue by promoting remineralization, attracting the necessary elements to repair the damage caused by these evil villains. Since Fluoride has been added to the water supply in major cities, tooth decay has dropped by roughly 60% in our youth. Kind of like crime in Metropolis…

Even with all the positive results from this additive, there is still much controversy surrounding it. Some go as far to say that it is a form of mass medication, calling it unconstitutional. None of the supposed extreme risks of Fluoride, ranging from allergies to osteoporosis, has ever been scientifically proven. Fluorosis is the only proven risk, resulting in white or brownish spots on the teeth caused by too much fluoride.

Many companies jumped on the Fluoride bandwagon, adding it to bottled water, toothpaste and every other oral product out there. The trickle down effect has benefitted those who need it most desperately: people in economically downtrodden and uneducated communities. This controversial super hero comes to the rescue, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in expenditures for those on Medicaid, as well as additional out of pocket dental costs.

I think it comes down to a universal rule that I try to apply to my daily life: Everything in moderation. In very high amounts, Fluoride is toxic. So is caffeine, but the average American spends $100 per month on gourmet coffee. So maybe, in a way, Fluoride-man is more like the man of steel than we thought. He came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, fighting a never-ending battle for the tooth, justice and the American Way!

by Tarin Keith

Typically wisdom teeth start to appear between ages 15-25, ironically referred to as “The Age of Wisdom”. Normally, they push on the gums, never breaking through to proper chewing height, causing discomfort. A small percentage of people do not get all four wisdom teeth, while a lucky few actually have room in their mouth and get to keep them! Unfortunately, having all your wisdom teeth doesn’t necessarily result in a higher I.Q.

A wisdom tooth is removed to correct a problem or prevent future issues, which could potentially cause you even more pain down the road. These teeth are much easier to remove at a younger age, since the roots are not fully formed and the bone is not as calcified. Yes, this is a minor surgery. Even so, advances in modern medicine have improved the process and recovery time, allowing you to return to your normal activities relatively quickly.

Even though dentistry was not a high priority in the days of William Shakespeare, he probably would have written a very dramatic play about the treachery, pain and eventual relief of having his wisdom teeth removed. To extract or not to extract?… I say we leave that up to your dentist.

by Tarin Keith

So, what makes a good New Year’s Floss-o-lution? It starts with creating better habits in the dental hygiene department. We all know that we should floss our teeth daily, however it seems that most people think they can fool their dentist if they floss just before their appointment. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

There are some simple tools out there that make flossing easier. Next time you’re at the store pick up some dental flossers, you’d be surprised how much easier it is and you won’t hate doing it. Plus, they’re very affordable and convenient to carry around, in case you get food stuck in between your teeth.

Make your New Year’s Floss-o-lution today and take better care of your teeth and gums. In the long run, a small preventative measure, like flossing, will save you money, pain and improve your quality of life. Did you know that flossing could extend your life up to six years? Sounds like an easy change to make, provided we’re all still around to see 2013.

Happy New Year!

by Tarin Keith

Or so they say. Kate Middleton is rumored to have endured a technique, which, if you can believe it, involved slightly rotating her teeth to attain a more natural, and therefore warmer, smile. While it may seem extreme to some, there’s no end to the actual accounts of myriad high-end dentists who create bespoke smiles for clients whose careers depend upon their smiles to maintain an adoring public.

The finer point to be made is that regardless of whether any procedure has or has not been performed, there’s clearly a current fascination with a smile that’s not quite, well, perfect. Europeans have accused Americans of fetishizing the perfect smile to the point where it has become artificial and cold. We also might add that the proliferation of social networking has warmed us to the natural smiles among us.

But social networking also reminds us of the perils of a bad smile, be it natural or unnatural alike. And for those of us who can’t afford (or don’t care) about a high-octane approach to dental care, we might be reminded that the pursuit of perfection starts at home with an attention to regular cleansing and hygiene. Let your natural smile shine, and let your dentist be the one to maintain it through his or her professionalism.

The controversy surrounds the treatment of microcavities, a catchall term for microscopic abnormalities on our teeth, and whether these abnormalities could lead to painful complications. The keyword here is could, because drilling the unseen has raised a number of red flags among some of the most experienced members of the industry.

But how much is the public to blame? We demand the best, expect our dentists to use the latest technologies, and rarely let a good deed go unpunished. When we sit in that comfy reclined chair and our teeth are a little sore, but sore in a good way so that you know they are sparklingly clean, and your dentist says he or she has found some microcavities…

Well, let’s just say that it takes a gutsy patient to turn down that preventative procedure, especially when your dentist invokes the possibility of that dreaded Root Canal.

What’s a patient to do? Consumers can start by staying informed! If you’ve recently moved and are seeing a new dentist for the first time, don’t assume that your teeth are all of a sudden pockmarked with cavities. This is especially concerning because drilling alone can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

So until there is some agreement as to the proper treatment of microcavities, dentists and patients alike ought to take a moment and remember that sometimes the best prevention is the vigilance of an experienced dentist; not only is it easier on the wallet, it’s less painful than the drill will ever be.

FULL ARTICLE > >

Tell me, how do I get a movie star smile? Getting a movie star smile may not be all that difficult, but the question is what defines a “movie star smile”? I can tell you firsthand that some celebrities have crowded teeth, others have subtle discolorations and some of the hottest models have spaces between their teeth (à la Lauren Hutton). So what you may really want is a lighter and brighter smile, with teeth that look better aligned and better proportioned.

FULL ARTICLE > >

1. As an alternative to removable dentures, dental implants are strong replacements for missing teeth. They consist of a titanium fixture surgically placed in the jaw bone where a tooth or teeth are missing. On that fixture an abutment (support) is placed onto which a porcelain crown is either cemented or screwed in. The procedure is usually done in the dental office with a local anesthetic (same as for simple fillings).
2. Dental implants are a good solution for replacing an unrestorable or marginally restorable tooth. Implants are so successful that often it is advisable to extract a tooth that needs extensive work, if that tooth will probably be lost in the future. Implants alleviate the need to grind down the adjacent teeth, which was commonly done years ago to build a fixed bridge.
3. In patients that get a lot of cavities, the beauty of implants is that being made of titanium they cannot decay. It is still critical however to brush and floss, as implants can develop periodontal disease.
4. If you have lost many teeth (or all your teeth), you do not need an implant for each tooth lost. To replace all the missing teeth in an arch (top or bottom), you probably can make due with 6-8 implants for each arch.
5. A thorough examination, treatment plan and diagnosis are necessary before implants can be placed. It is important that the specialist placing the implants coordinate with the dentist restoring them prior to treatment. At times a CT Scan should be taken to determine where the best bone is to place the implants. Sometimes grafts or sinus lifts are necessary to secure enough bone. A frank conversation with your dentist about the costs, treatment time, and risks and benefits is strongly recommended before embarking on implant treatment. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17brod.html

At Dental Partners of Fifth Avenue, our in house periodontal specialist has twenty years’ experience in placing implants. By being in the same office, we work together in the operatory to achieve the best possible results. After the procedure, our in office ceramist will help fabricate a beautiful temporary restoration, and later the final porcelain crown.

• The teeth—especially the conspicuous front teeth—should be relatively even in color, with a slight yellowing near the gumline. They should be slightly translucent near the biting edges and neither dead white nor darkly discolored.
• The upper front teeth are the most visible ones in the mouth. The open smile should reveal most of their surfaces. Lips should not sag so far, nor the teeth be so worn, that the biting edges can’t be seen. A smile, however, shouldn’t be so high that it exposes large areas of the upper gums.
• The teeth in each jaw should be fairly straight, and shouldn’t tip or overlap. The biting edges should form a fairly smooth contour, a smile line, that curves gently upward to parallel the line of the smiling lower lip.
• The biting edges of the front teeth should be slightly curved at the corners, and not ground flat. The upper central incisors and canines should be slightly (but only slightly) longer than the lateral incisors.